The next day.
The roosters crow, the eastern sky turns white. Li Xian rises at the sound of the chickens and is already practicing swordsmanship. The Sinking River Sword is three feet long and two fingers wide, its cold gleam bursting, capable of slicing iron like mud.
It can create waves when playing with water.
Day and night alternate, the sunlight slants. Li Xianâs sword tip catches the sunlight, slowly guiding it. The Setting Sun Bloodsword reaches peak mastery, unexpectedly guiding the sunlight to follow the swordâs movement. It draws an arc of light.
In the haze, purple qi seems to gather. Li Xian slows down his sword techniques, performing various profound moves in succession: Three Days of Prosperity, Hanging Sun, Setting Sun Like Blood, Blazing Sun in the Sky... He focuses on intention, ignoring form, allowing the Yang Sword to fly gracefully without dispersing a trace of scorching waves.
The sword tip guides the purple qi, instead bringing a refreshing coolness. Suddenly, it thrusts sideways, the sword vibrating and emitting a humming sound. The purple qi becomes extraordinarily dense, making Li Xian appear extremely noble.
This move is called "Purple Qi from the East". Itâs a highly lethal technique in the Setting Sun Bloodsword, requiring the alternation of day and night, deploying rich purple qi at the sword tip. Only with perfection in its skills, can one barely use it.
[You gather rich purple qi, Setting Sun Bloodswordâs First Layer, Second Level skill level +59]
Heaven rewards diligence, one will surely gain. Li Xian is greatly delighted, his mood further elevated, suddenly thinking: "I have practiced Martial Arts until now, though my studies are not systematic, my skills are deep, I can try to merge and display them."
Suddenly flipping his palm, he performs âJade Palmâ. Mist spreads, where Li Xianâs sword tip dances with multicolored light, as if witnessing a miracle. As he completes a set of swordsmanship, the old house and broken courtyard become vibrant and enchanting, ethereal immortal energy fills the air, mist floats around.
Li Xian continuously performs sword techniques, the red mole between his brows slightly glowing. The Perfect Appearance naturally reveals itself. His body surrounded by mist resembling immortal energy, airy and handsome.
Li Xian exudes a graceful demeanor, his long hair dancing. His jade-like face embodies immortal features, extremely elegant. His Yang Yuan fully abundant, his Pure Yang Body like an intangible furnace, attracting the attention of women.
Wen Caishang lies in bed, already awake, silently observing, her red lips slightly pressed, her beautiful eyes resembling the surface of a February lake, growing ever more enchanting with spring.
Li Xian practices swordsmanship in the morning; at noon, he sees a farmer resting under a tree, then goes over to chat, to explore curious tales, engage in casual talks on family matters.
At night, he helps Wen Caishang with massages.
Rural life is not without its charms. Huashui Prefecture counts as a prosperous land, the soil fertile, water abundant, climate mild, producing poisonous snakes, frogs... and flowers blooming attract bees and butterflies. Occasionally, one can find a beehive and gather honey.
In Harmony Village, there are mischievous boys, after finishing farm work, they go to the mountains together, raid beehives to steal honey, returning with their heads bandaged. Farmers busy in the fields typically carry small baskets around their waists. Upon seeing poisonous snakes, eels, frogs... they capture them. Cooking a pot of snake soup, eel soup is quite a delicacy.
Wen Caishang lies idly, finding it uninteresting, so she watches the farmers planting rice. Having seen much of the âsnake, eel, frogâ related matters, she becomes a little curious and calls Li Xian to catch and taste them.
Li Xian is very surprised and naturally fulfills her request. Under the cover of night, he sneaks into the fields, catching poisonous snakes, kicking frogs, capturing eels... skillfully skinning and gutting them, to cook a pot of "Field Three Fresh Delicacies".
His culinary skill is indeed impressive. The soup is fresh and flavorful, with traces of earthy aromas, adding local charm and taste.
[You cook Field Three Fresh Delicacies, Culinary Skill level +12]
So it goes, in a blink of an eye, three days pass, Wen Caishangâs left hand can now move, her fingers nimble. Yet she finds it difficult to exert strength, using the sword is uneventful, but when holding heavy objects, she canât lift them.
Wen Caishang says: "Donât underestimate me. When you put five stones in my palm, ordinary experts canât even approach me."
Li Xian is quite intrigued, deciding to give it a try. He searches the courtyard for stones, cleans them and places them in Wen Caishangâs palm. Then he pretends to be a robber, breaking into the courtyard.
As he pushes the small wooden gate, a "whoosh" sound rings out, a stone ricochets, precisely aiming at him. This is one of the "Flower Picking Finger" style moves called "Falling Flower Has Intent".
Falling Flower Has Intent, seeks its sweetheart. Therefore, the stone ricochets throughout, consistently targeting Li Xian. Wen Caishang may have no Inner Qi, Flower Picking Finger has form without charm, but still extremely formidable.
Li Xian leaps agilely, dodging easily. In mid-air, the second, third stones... shoot and strike consecutively. The angles are astonishing, the force light but three taels could kill a tiger!
Li Xian spins his body, deftly avoiding them all. Knowing Wen Caishangâs strength, he breaks into the room, laughing: "Iâve gotten close, you lost."
Wen Caishang responds: "I am without strength, with no Inner Qi, unable to execute formidable techniques even if my body moves freely, Iâm not your match. The ordinary experts I spoke of are those below the Food Essence Realm. Youâre taking advantage of the weak."
Li Xian says: "I just take advantage of the weak." The two engage in playful teasing, tickling her waist, neck, and soles... Wen Caishang laughs crisply, her laughter mixed with embarrassment, hiding joy, finding happiness within. The adobe house walls, made of yellow mud, couldnât isolate the sounds. Passing villagers mutter: "These youngsters are shameless, doing such things in broad daylight..." Raising their heads, trying to spy on a sensual scene. A stone shot out, âthumpâ, piercing an eye, blood flowing, screaming in agony.
Wen Caishang raises her eyebrows, smugly mocking, fingers pinching another stone, thinking: "You spoil my mood, muddy embryo, your eyes are unclean, I shall blind you." With a light flick, she shoots toward the other eye.
Li Xian feels a bit disturbed: "Madamâs hand remains so vicious." Not wanting to stir trouble, he takes out a piece of silver from his pocket, throwing it outward to knock away Wen Caishangâs stone. The silver follows its trajectory and coincidentally lands in the farmerâs hand.
The farmerâs eyes bleed, initially terrified. But seeing the silver fall, his fear dispelled, he pockets the silver and runs away. Wen Caishang huffs: "You wonât gouge out his eyes for me, Iâll do it myself, why stop me? Are you closer to that farmer than to me?"
Li Xian replies: "I donât want trouble, you blind both his eyes, heâll shout and disturb the heavens, his wife, children would surely come, what would we do then? We couldnât stay here anymore."
Wen Caishang says: "Whatâs there to fear, if they dare molest us, Iâll blind them one by one, turn this Harmony Village into Blind Village. There are plenty of villages under the heavens; we can find another place to stay. As long as you and I are together, thatâs all that matters."
Li Xian sighs: "Madamâs hands have just regained movement, returning to her former ferocity. When her strength is fully restored, I wonder if sheâll handle me gently." Firmly deciding to leave afterward.
Wen Caishang knows Li Xianâs nature well, not like her, actively speaking softly: "Are you upset about my harsh actions, angry? Iâm targeting them, not you. Once Iâm well, Iâll thoroughly thank you." Li Xian, recalling Wen Caishangâs methods, further desires to "take advantage of the weak", fiercely deal with her. Wen Caishangâs beautiful eyes ripple, while calling Li Xian disrespectful, she clearly enjoys it.
At night.
Li Xian quietly lurks, approaching the farmerâs house, eavesdropping: "You dead man, how could you be hurt so badly? The doctor says your eye is beyond hope!"
"Oh my, what bad luck we have! Isnât it that young couple who came to the village? Theyâre quite young but he doesnât farm nor does she weave, curious, I went to take a look, not knowing a stone would hit my eye, it hurts me to death!"
"Serves you right, youâre just trying to see the wife, wonder how pretty she is? You dead lecher, I know you too well! You deserve it! But... itâs too harsh, a perfectly good eye, wasted just like that."
"You canât say... although I didnât see her appearance, hearing the voice, itâs truly like an Ethereal Immortal Sound, hehe."
...
...
After eavesdropping for a long time, suddenly the candlelight went out, followed by the rustling sound of clothes being removed. Li Xian muttered, "Goodness, injured like this, yet still doing physical work. Daytime tilling and nighttime plowing, you really have it tough." Not wanting to watch any longer, he used his lightweight skill and left.
In the blink of an eye, it was the tenth day.
Wen Caishangâs qi and blood circulated, and she could already sit up. Sitting cross-legged, she was in her room, with her long hair floating then falling.
She sighed, "Such powerful Gu worms, I just gathered a thread of inner qi, and it was sucked away."
Li Xian had a clear objective, hiding in Harmony Village for two purposes: to wait for Wen Caishang to recover and to spend time devising a fake route.
Wen Caishangâs injuries were hard to heal, but the finger force gradually resolved. She was slowly able to protect herself.
Li Xian was relieved, mingling with the villagers, gathering rumors from near and far, and indeed he gained something, learning that there was a "Fuhua Trading Company" locally.
The trading company engages in commerce, exchanging goods, inevitably leading to long journeys. This Fuhua Trading Company mainly transports silk and sells shoes to the south, with their trade route leading directly to the Southern Border. Qiong Heavenly Mansion is frequently on their path.
They were naturally very familiar with the road conditions along the way.
During these days, Li Xian frequently visited the trading company. He entertained guests, drank, made friends, using his outstanding demeanor to make friends with the trading company personnel.
Asked about the events of the southern journey. The people at the trading company bragged and chatted, with diverse tales of encountering demons, killing bandits, fighting evil merchants, breaking through illusions, and so on.
Truly with many ups and downs, fraught with danger, right riveting. There were truths and falsehoods, yet no one knew which was which.
...
Rising with the crowing of roosters, sleeping with the sound of frogs.
Sleeping together at night, playing during the day.
That night, the two slept in each otherâs arms. Li Xian took the opportunity to ask, "My dear, why do I feel my body is getting heavier and heavier?"
Wen Caishang said, "Thatâs because youâre showing signs of reaching the Martial Arts Second Realm!"
"Is it the Ethereal Immortal Sound?" Li Xian asked.
"Indeed," Wen Caishang said. "The Ethereal Immortal Sound... Taixu refers to the bone quality. The Martial Arts Second Realm is related to human bones. Your consumption of the essence of heaven and earth transforms your physique, gradually inward."
"The so-called âEthereal Immortal Soundâ is actually when the bone quality transforms to a certain degree, and the bone quality is no longer ordinary. When they collide, they emit a distinct sound, much like a light âbell sound.â"
"But people are different, and there are always slight differences."
Li Xian said, "So thatâs it, the transformation of bone quality causes the body to suddenly feel heavier. The collision of bones emits a clear bell sound, which is the âEthereal Immortal Sound.â Can this sound disturb peopleâs thoughts?"
Wen Caishang said, "Of course, if studied carefully, it has many marvelous uses. Some martial arts schools and martial arts techniques develop based on this."
"Su Qiuyu, Li Quan, and Zhao Zhiyuan are all adept at using the Ethereal Immortal Sound. But your level is not enough to discern it. In your eyes, itâs just an ordinary move or punch or thrust, but it actually contains very deep martial principles."
Li Xian found it very rewarding and pursued further, "Yes, why do martial artists of this realm melt into water when they encounter it?"
Wen Caishang said, "Naturally it is..." Remembering how Li Xian compared her indirectly to a wild boar, her temper flared, and she said, "I wonât tell you. Figure it out yourself. Or beg me for it."
Li Xian laughed, "I donât beg; I have my own ways to extract it." Wen Caishang panicked briefly as she felt her feet lifted and then her foot arches being tickled.
Half an hour later, Wen Caishang begged for mercy repeatedly and eventually revealed the truth.
It turns out... the way of martial artists is to have a body like heaven and earth. The Martial Arts Second Realm is beginning to show its signs, hence undergoing a process of "dregs sinking and clarity rising."
Upon entering the water, the martial artistâs body becomes buoyant, and the murky qi within sinks. It drags the martial artistâs body, sinking them into the lake.
No matter what swimming skills are employed, none can resist.
And in water, lightweight skill is useless. Neither swimming nor flying is possible... thereâs nowhere to gain leverage. Naturally, one can only drown in the water.
Thus... upon entering water, they transform, like a Mud Bodhisattva.
...
...
After this day, Li Xian attempted the "Ethereal Immortal Sound," slowly able to emit faint distinct sounds. The human body contains "two hundred and six" bones. Each bone, at the joints, when rubbed, collided, or lightly touched, can produce distinct sounds.
The field of "Ethereal Immortal Sound" is extremely profound. When dueling, the bones move, emitting various strange sounds, causing others to unknowingly fall into traps. Extremely formidable!
Li Xian suddenly felt a new world. Exhilarated, while practicing swordsmanship, amidst the ethereal mist, accompanied by the "Ethereal Immortal Sound," there seemed to be some inexplicable changes.
(Please subscribe!)